Home Tour: A creative industry couple’s $80,000 renovation for their 4-room HDB in Kallang

Rough and raw is artfully melded with refined luxe in the home of Simone Hui and her husband, creating a dialogue between contrasting elements that runs throughout their Kallang BTO. With backgrounds in graphic design and working in the creative industry, the couple have discerning taste in visual aesthetics, and knew exactly what they wanted for their home long before they received their keys.

Each decision—from spatial planning to material selection—reflects their professional sensibilities, transforming standard HDB architecture into a personalized gallery where they live their design philosophy daily.

Stepping into their entryway feels like crossing a threshold between worlds—leaving behind the familiar HDB corridor for a space that challenges preconceptions about public housing renovations in Singapore. The transition is immediate and deliberate, signaling that this is a home where boundaries are meant to be pushed and conventional BTO renovation templates abandoned in favor of authentic personal expression.

Concrete screed flooring and cement walls

Concrete screed flooring and cement walls form the bare canvas of the open-concept living area, which is played up with stylish furniture and decor in attractive jewel-tone shades and metallic accents. Morning light streams through carefully considered window treatments, creating dramatic shadows across the textured surfaces and bringing the industrial elements to life.

Cushions from Bode introduce pops of color against the neutral backdrop, while the iconic Classicon Bell table from Space provides a sculptural element that anchors the seating arrangement. A custom rug from The Rug Maker adds warmth underfoot, softening the industrial aesthetic with tactile comfort—a thoughtful counterpoint to the deliberate rawness of the Kallang flat’s foundational surfaces.

When evening falls, the couple often finds themselves reclining in this carefully composed space, the ambient lighting transforming harsh concrete into something surprisingly intimate. The jewel tones deepen, metallic surfaces capture and reflect light points, and what began as an industrial canvas becomes an enveloping sanctuary from Singapore’s urban intensity. This duality—spaces that transform from day to night—was central to their vision for their BTO renovation journey.

Industrial luxe Kallang BTO

The homeowners worked with interior designer Chris Huang of Bowerman Interior Planner, discovering in him a kindred spirit who could translate their creative vision into architectural reality. Their professional backgrounds gave them the vocabulary to communicate precisely what they wanted, but Huang’s expertise proved invaluable in navigating the practical constraints of HDB renovation guidelines while achieving their aesthetic goals.

He designed the flat with streamlined, linear features, and juxtaposed materials such as concrete and marble, to achieve the industrial-luxe aesthetic that defines this remarkable Kallang BTO transformation.

Louvred panel screens

Sliding louvred panels over the windows allow the homeowners to alter the ambience of the living room with a simple gesture—screening off natural light for a more intimate and moody feel during evening gatherings, or left open for a brighter, airy look when they work from home during Singapore’s brilliant daylight hours.

This architectural feature transforms their living space throughout the day, creating a home that responds to their needs and moods rather than demanding adaptation from its occupants.

West Elm Pendant Lamp

A molecular pendant lamp the couple ordered online from West Elm grounds the dining area, creating a distinct zone within the open-concept layout without requiring physical barriers. The sculptural lighting fixture hovers above a warm wooden dining table from Commune, creating a gravitational center for meals and conversations.

Artwork from Taylor B provides a focal point that draws the eye, while carefully selected metallic decor accessories from CB2 create moments of reflection and visual interest throughout the space. Together, these elements define the dining experience as separate from, but connected to, the adjacent living zones.

Blue kitchen cabinet laminate

The kitchen, with a counter finished in a vibrant blue laminate and topped with marble, is backdropped by champagne tinted mirror panels that visually expand the compact BTO kitchen space while adding an unexpected element of glamour.

It provides an eye-catching contrast to the rough and raw surfaces of the adjacent living area, creating a deliberate tension that makes both spaces more compelling. The blue stands as a bold declaration against the predominantly neutral palette, demonstrating the couple’s confidence in their design decisions and their understanding of color’s emotional impact in living spaces.

Homeowner’s own artwork

The home is decorated with paintings by Simone, such as this artwork in the corridor leading to the bedrooms, transforming transitional spaces into gallery-like experiences.

These personal creative expressions are not mere decorations but integral components of the home’s identity, blurring the line between architecture and art. Each painting responds to the surrounding space while simultaneously reshaping how that space is perceived—a creative dialogue that continues to evolve as Simone produces new work.

All-white master bedroom

A marked contrast is evident, as the darker theme transitions into the all-white master bedroom, creating a psychological boundary that supports the transition from social to private space. This deliberate shift in aesthetic announces that you’ve entered a different realm within the home—one dedicated to restoration and intimacy rather than expression and entertainment. The threshold between these zones represents a thoughtful consideration of how different domestic environments support different emotional needs.

Luxurious marble bathroom

Both the bathrooms are fully clad in polished marble—the common one in dramatic black Nero Marquina and the master en suite in luminous white Volakas, offering unexpected glamour even in the compact spaces typical of Singapore BTO bathrooms.

These luxurious surfaces transform utilitarian necessities into sensory experiences, elevating everyday routines into moments of indulgence. The contrast between the raw industrial elements in the main living space and the uncompromising luxury of these intimate spaces creates a compelling narrative about private versus public expression in domestic environments.

Bathroom black framed glass panels

The all-white master bathroom with a see-through concept is “outlined” by the use of black framed glass panels, for an interesting visual effect that recalls the couple’s graphic design sensibilities. This architectural framing device creates a composition that feels both contemporary and timeless, transforming a functional space into a visually striking environment. The contrast between black lines and white surfaces creates a three-dimensional graphic that changes with perspective and light conditions.

White painted engineered wood

To create the serene atmosphere in the master bedroom, the designer used engineered wood that was painted white for the built-in platform, and the bed was positioned against the windows for soft backlighting that creates a naturally ethereal atmosphere as daylight filters through sheer curtains. This thoughtful positioning transforms the quality of light in the room throughout the day, from the gentle morning glow that gradually awakens the couple to the warm evening light that signals transition toward rest.

$80,000 renovation cost

The space is adorned with a curation of objects from the couple’s travels and knick-knacks they have collected over the years, transforming personal history into design elements that contribute to the home’s unique character. Each item tells a story of discovery, connection, or creative appreciation—making their Kallang flat not just a showcase of design principles but a three-dimensional autobiography that continues to evolve with their experiences.

From the $80,000 (excluding furnishings) renovation, the homeowners got the best of both worlds with a chic and edgy home that blends contrasting luxe and industrial styles into a cohesive whole that feels both intentional and effortless. This investment—substantial by typical BTO renovation standards in Singapore—reflects their commitment to creating a home that serves as both personal sanctuary and creative manifesto. Every dollar was allocated with purpose, prioritizing quality materials and craftsmanship in areas that would most impact their daily experience.

As evening settles over Kallang, the couple often finds themselves appreciating how their home transforms in changing light—concrete surfaces warming, metallic accents catching the glow of carefully positioned lighting, marble reflecting complex patterns across adjacent surfaces. In these moments, the value of their investment becomes evident not in resale potential or material luxury, but in the creation of a living environment that continuously supports and inspires their creative lives.